From the very opening, the documentary places Ruth Croft at the centre of a discourse that’s not often heard from an elite athlete, at the UTMB. She says she doesn’t feel much emotion tied to the race, downplays the importance of winning, and considers that “winning UTMB” doesn’t really matter. The film draws on this frankness to invite you to reassess the place of results in sport.
“Roots” is premiered at the UTMB Mont Blanc 2026 festival in Chamonix, France, and then widely released on YouTube on 14 October. That date comes one day before Ruth Croft sets off for the Diagonale des Fous on the island of La Réunion. The film therefore comes out alongside a major event.
The documentary’s approach highlights an introspective narrative, presented as an origin story rather than a simple sequence of trail-running victories. It isn’t a perfectly linear progression towards greatness, and Croft, like many others, takes difficult detours before finding her passion again. The film also looks at what matters to her most: family and friendships above all.
The documentary stresses the support around Ruth Croft: Josh is described as a devoted friend who travels with her, and the video also highlights the importance of a partner behind the scenes. Martin Gaffuri is presented as Croft’s support, illustrating their duo during a crewing scene. Croft comments on their dynamic with an image that contrasts two ways of loading a dishwasher.
The film builds to a peak with Ruth Croft’s victory at the UTMB in 2025, underlining that reaching the goal hasn’t changed the athlete. She says that putting in 10 years of work to get there has “not changed” who she is. At the finish, she’s surrounded by the people who matter most—family and friends who supported her.
